Ann broke down crying on the June 28 episode of the ‘Today Show’ and told all of her loyal viewers that she is going to be leaving as co-host — but she she’ll continue working for NBC and travel all over the world to report on stories.

“This is going to be my last morning as a regular co-host of the Today show: I will still be part of the Today family, I’ll have a new title and a new role. This is not what I expected, the way I would leave this couch.”

Ann continued to sob and said: “For all of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, I’m so sorry I couldn’t carry the ball over the finish line. But man I did try, so for all of you who watched, I thank you.”

For weeks, reports have suggested that 55-year-old Today show co-host Ann Curry would be replaced as Matt Lauer’s partner for the morning news program. In a new interview with USA Today, she said:

“I don’t know who has been behind the leaks, but no question they’ve hurt deeply. I’m going to have to tell our viewers. That’s what makes me more emotional than anything. I don’t want to leave them. I love them. And I will really miss them.”

Ann told viewers that NBC is giving her a “fancy new title” that will allow her to stay within the Today family and continue to report on international issues while traveling the globe with a seven-member team.

Her new title will be Anchor at Large and National and International Correspondent for NBC News. “She’ll cover global stories, anchor prime-time specials and report for Today, Nightly News, Rock Center, Dateline and MSNBC, as well as digital properties,” Deadline reports.

“I get tickets to every big story we want to cover,” she said. “With a terrific team of my choosing. Will go all over the world and country — After all these years I don’t know if I can sleep in anymore but whatever time I wake up I’ll be believing in you, missing you.”

While the Today show has fallen behind Good Morning America for the first time in 16 years, Ann does not feel her 1-year stint as co-host — following Meredith Vieira’s departure — was a long enough time frame to give her a chance to work out typical “kinks” in morning TV!

“You know, Matt and I have had great on-air chemistry for 14 years, been part of the No. 1 winning team for a history-making number of years,” she says. “That said, I just finished my freshman year as co-host. In every single co-host’s first year, there have been kinks to be worked out, and perhaps I deserve as much blame for that as anyone.”

After Ann’s emotional announcement, Matt consoled her and added that this wasn’t “the end” and that she would be joining them for the Olympics in London this summer.

“You have the biggest heart in the business,” Matt said. “And you put it on display every morning in this studio for 20 years.”

Ann is reportedly going to receive $10 million as part of her NBC Today contract for the next two years.